RoadVitals

2002 Cadillac Eldorado

Recalls, owner-reported complaints, investigations and safety data

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
10
Latest May 21, 2012
Safety recallsA safety recall is issued when a manufacturer or NHTSA determines that a vehicle has a safety-related defect or does not comply with a federal motor vehicle safety standard. Recall repairs are free. Whether a specific vehicle is covered depends on its VIN — a recall listed for a model year does not necessarily apply to every vehicle of that year.
0
InvestigationsNHTSA opens an investigation to examine whether a safety defect may exist. An open investigation is not a determination that a defect exists, and many investigations close without a recall. Investigations can, however, lead to one.
0
Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
2
1 injuries, 0 deaths reported

Overview

Our database contains 10 NHTSA owner-reported complaints for the 2002 Cadillac Eldorado, most frequently naming the body & structure, tires & wheels and airbags categories. 340 manufacturer communications are on file.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

What owners report

Complaints grouped by the component NHTSA recorded

  • Body & structure216.7%
  • Tires & wheels216.7%
  • Airbags216.7%
  • Electrical18.3%
  • Engine18.3%
  • Steering18.3%
  • Transmission18.3%
  • Brakes18.3%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Safety recalls

No recalls in our database for this model year

That does not guarantee a specific vehicle is unaffected — recalls are issued against VINs, and new campaigns are announced regularly. Check a VIN on NHTSA.gov.

Recent owner complaints

Reports submitted to NHTSA, shown in the owner's own words

Body & structure
Filed May 21, 2012

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ELDORADO. THE CONTACT STATED THE OVERHEAD EYEGLASS COMPARTMENT DETACHED AND BLOCKED THE VIEW OF THE REAR VIEW MIRROR. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN THE DEALER WHO STATED THE LATCH FOR THE OVERHEAD EYE GLASS COMPARTMENT NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 87,757. UPDATED 07/19/12 *BF UPDATED 07/23/12

NHTSA ID
10459074
Incident
May 17, 2012
Mileage
87,757 mi
Body & structure
Filed Apr 7, 2008

I WAS AT DON MACKEY CADILLAC SHOWING THE SERVICE ADVISER A PROBLEM UNDER THE HOOD WHEN I NOTICED THAT THE FIREWALL HAD A HOLE IN IT. IN THE PRESENCE OF THE ADVISED I POINTED OUT THE OPENING AND WHEN I TOUCHED THE FIREWALL A PIECE OF THE PL ASTIC BROKE OFF IN MY HAND. I ASKED THE SERVICE ADVISER IF THIS WAS TYPICAL AND HE STATED THAT IT WAS NOT. HE ALSO STATED THAT TO REPLACE THE PART WOULD BE PROHIBITIVELY EXPENSIVE. I FEEL THAT THIS IS A SAFETY HAZARD. THE FIREWALL IS SUPPOSED TO PROTECT THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT IN THE EVENT OF A FIRE OR ACCIDENT. *TR

NHTSA ID
10223608
Incident
Mar 13, 2008
Mileage
38,752 mi
EngineTransmission
Filed Dec 10, 2007

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 CADILLAC ELDORADO. WHILE DRIVING 60 MPH, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED AND THE CONTACT HEARD A CLINKING NOISE UNDERNEATH THE VEHICLE. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE VALVE SOLENOID AND TORQUE CONVERTER CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. APPROXIMATELY FOUR MONTHS LATER, WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE EXPERIENCED DIFFICULTY SHIFTING GEARS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SWITCH ASSEMBLY AND LOWER VALVES CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY MADE THE REPLACEMENT. APPROXIMATELY ONE MONTH LATER, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE TRANSMISSION WOULD NOT UPSHIFT. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SPACER PLATE AND GASKET ASSEMBLY CAUSED THE FAILURE AND MADE THE REPLACEMENT. APPROXIMATELY A YEAR AND A HALF LATER, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE SOLENOID CAUSED THE FAILURE AND THEY REPLACED THE SOLENOID, VARIABLE PRESSURE SOLENOID, AND FILTERS. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 26,215 AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 60,500. UPDATED 12/27/07 *TR

NHTSA ID
10211331
Incident
Oct 1, 2004
Mileage
26,215 mi
Brakes
Filed May 16, 2005

DT CONSUMER STATES WHEN THE BRAKES ARE PRESSED, IT DOESN'T STOP THE VEHICLE. IT HAPPENS WHEN THE VEHICLE IS MOVING SLOWLY. THE SERVICE DEPARTMENT SAYS THEY CAN'T FIND OUT WHAT IS WRONG WITH THE BRAKES. *TT

NHTSA ID
10121097
Incident
May 11, 2005
Driver assistance
Filed Jul 24, 2004

CAR INTO CAR DEALERSHIP FOR THE FIFTH TIME DUE TO SAME SAFETY PROBLEM--CAR, WITHOUT WARNING GOES INTO PASSING GEAR CAUSING LOSS OF CONTROL, WITH RPM'S GOING TO 6000 & SPEEDOMETER GOING TO 0-- HIGH PROBABILITY OF A CRASH. *AK

NHTSA ID
10082585
Incident
Jul 22, 2004
Mileage
51,000 mi
Electrical
Filed Jan 23, 2004

WHILE DRIVING THE CRANKSHAFT SENSOR FAILED WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO TURN OFF. *PH THE DEALER REPLACED BOTH CRANK SENSORS. *NM (NAR)

NHTSA ID
10057180
Incident
Dec 29, 2003
Mileage
30,361 mi
SteeringTires & wheels
Filed Jan 16, 2004

WARRANTY AND SAFETY ISSUE * CADILLAC MARKET IMAGE.*MR (NAR) THE CONSUMER EXPERIENCED STEERING PROBLEMS CAUSED BY FAULTY VOGUE TIRES. *CB

NHTSA ID
10055324
Incident
Apr 1, 2003
Mileage
12,108 mi
Tires & wheels
Filed Oct 16, 2003

FRONT TIRES WORE OUT PREMATURELY, CAUSING THE SIDEWALL TO CRACK. DEALER RECOMMENDED TIRE REPLACEMENT. *AK

NHTSA ID
10044110
Incident
Jun 1, 2002

Manufacturer communications

A bulletin sent by a manufacturer to its dealers. Not a recall, and repairs are not necessarily free.

PIP5601C

This PI communicates the requirement to provide a pico file to receive diagnostic assistance from TAC.

PIP5358D

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have an unusual noise and is difficult to identify, isolate or pinpoint. Technician should get record a sound clip or take a video of the noise for assessment by engineering. Technician will need to call General Motors Technical Assistance Center for further assistance.

PIP4723J

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

This Preliminary Information communicates to the dealer the process for downloading or updating operating software for the Tire Pressure Monitor, Active Fuel Injector tester, multi media tester, PICO Scope, GR8 starting/charging tester  and Vehicle Data Recorder tools, giving website address and step by step instructions to complete the update.

PIT5099H

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.

PIT5099H

This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that the Heater-Vent-Air Conditioning blows warm air. Before calling General Motors Technical Assistance Center technician will need to have high and low pressures, outside temperature, humidity, and vent temperature.

General Communication

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

Vehicle Wide Programming (VWP) is a new process to update software on GM Vehicles. It provides the ability via a single selection within Techline Connect to first identify which modules need updating and then proceed to updating affected modules (with some exceptions). The updating of modules is completed in parallel instead of the technician needing to update one module at a time. This allows a more streamlined approach for dealers and customers.

Manufacturers file copies of the bulletins they send to dealers with NHTSA. These often describe diagnostic or repair procedures for a known condition. They are not recalls: repairs described in a bulletin are usually only free if the vehicle is still under warranty or the manufacturer has extended coverage.

Compare model years

Complaint and recall counts across every year of this model

Cadillac Eldorado by model year
YearComplaintsRecallsInvestigationsIssue Index
2002Viewing100038.5
2001240027.6
2000301045.7
1999230035.1
1998381037.6
1997592258.7
1996602356.6
1995542463.5
1994352253.3
1993352049.6
1992251042.7
1991910
1990254055.2
1989820
1988912
1987722
1986123260.3
1985102260.6
1984734
1983421
1982331
1981110
1980010
1979110
1977010
1973210
1968010

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers. Older model years have had longer for reports to accumulate.